CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Champaign-Urbana continues to ride a wave of economic strength as the area posted one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state for April 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Illinois Department of Employment Security. The metro area’s jobless rate dropped to 2.8%, down a full percentage point from 3.8% in April 2024.
The local jobs market also added 1,300 nonfarm positions over the year, bringing the total to 124,400. Gains were led by the government sector (+2,000), followed by private education and health services (+300), and leisure and hospitality (+100).
While some sectors remained flat, others saw small losses—including information (-300), professional and business services (-200), and manufacturing (-100). Despite those declines, the region’s overall employment picture remains strong.
Statewide, Deputy Governor Andy Manar noted, “With unemployment down year over year in nearly every metro area and some reaching decades-low rates, Illinois continues to demonstrate strong economic momentum.”
Vermilion County saw its unemployment rate fall from 5.2% to 4.3%. However, the region lost 800 nonfarm jobs, driven largely by declines in manufacturing and government employment.
Of all metro areas in the state, the largest job growth percentages were seen in the Elgin (+1.2%), Champaign-Urbana (+1.1%), and Rockford (+0.8%) regions. The only metro to see a rise in unemployment was the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg area, which ticked up by 0.5 percentage points to 5.1%.
Overall, Illinois added more than 41,000 jobs over the past year, with strong showings in sectors like education, health services, construction, and government.